Hotel Montecarlo

This antique hotel feels like an oasis in the center of Riobamba. The elegant furnishings and classical European mansion look really make you say “WOW!” It still has modern comforts for a comfortable stay, including purified water, coffee and tea. The restaurant next door, where breakfast is included, is a great food option. Highly recommended.

The included breakfast was simple, and it took almost an hour to arrive in the morning. The staff weren't very flexible and were really rude to me when I left. The room didn't feel very clean, either.

The location was handy for local sights, and parking was available about two blocks away at a separate place. The staff worked hard, were helpful and very friendly. The open courtyard layout meant the rooms were a little noisy, and the “hot” water was barely tepid even at 6 a.m. The water temperature and the shower not draining were my biggest complaints. Still, it worked for a quick overnight stay, and the price was good.

The room itself had hot water and a TV, and the Wi-Fi was okay, but there were no lamps, no dryer or iron, and we couldn't lock the door from inside. The bathroom was tiny, the windows were so thin we heard everyone coming in, and the wooden stairs and hallway creaked with every step. Our room was on the second floor. When we arrived, older men at reception helped with our bags and sent someone to show us where to park, about two blocks away from the hotel. The worst part came after my husband was robbed near a bar that same night. His phone and wallet were taken, along with our room key. The building staff and police were awful at helping us. I told the staff I didn't feel safe staying in that room and asked for another one. They said every room was occupied and told me I should just worry about being safe. They also seemed to have no idea about emergency procedures, even something as basic as knowing the police number. I'm waiting for daylight so we can check out and go somewhere else, and hopefully we can file a police report if anyone ever shows up.